Tree surgery



Fin. 9, 1932 F. SALATH, JR

TREE SURGERY Filed May 1s. 19:51

Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" FREDERICK SALATHE, JR., OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 GEORGE K. FREEMAN, 0F SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA TREE SURGERY Application filed May 13,

My invention relates to tree surgery, and in particular to the treatment of trees haviupr decayed or damaged portions of the trunk or branches.

It is an object of this invention to remove such portions olI the tree and to sterilize and disinfect the wood adjacent to the decayed or damaged portions, so as to destroy fungus growth and bacteria causing decay, and then optionally to fill the cavity formed by the removal of the decayed or damaged portions with a composition which will assist in the exclusion oit' moisture through condensation or extraneous water, or leave it hollow, and them to hermetically seal `the opening of the cavity after the composition has been applied.

For this purpose, one of the principal steps of my method of treating a tree is the carbonization oi the walls ot the cavity lin the trunk or the branch of the tree. A flame having an intense heat is applied so as to destroy any remaining Yliungus growth or bacteria which may be present in the walls of the cavity, and at the same time form a carbon lining i'or the cavity, which, as will be hereinafter explained, serves as a medium not only for the reception of a disinfectant to be subsequently applied, but also permits the firm bonding between the walls of the cavity and the water prooi protective coating applied to the carbon lining.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the steps of the method hereinafter described and claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the speciiication, I have illustrated the successive steps of the method, and in which:

Fig. l is a vertical cross section oit a section of a tree trunk showing a cavity partially filled with decayed wood.

Fig. 2 is a similar view after the removal ci" the decayed wood.

Fig. 3 is a similar View after the carbonizing operation, showing the carbon lining.

Fig. l is a view similar to Fig. 3 after the application or the disinfectant and the water proofing.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the cavity 1931. Serial No. 537,033.

illed with a plastic composition and also the iinishing layers.

Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 5, showing the grow th `formed by the cambium layer over the edges or the mouth of the lilled cavity.

Fig. 7 is a front view of a section of a tree trunk showing a cut surface left by the removal of a branch.

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section thereof showing the carbon layer and the water profing coating.

Fig. 9 is a similar View to Fig. 8, showing the growth of the cambium layer partially covering the cut surface.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a trunk of a tree having a cavity 2 formed by the decay of wood portions, in which the shaded portions 3 indicate decayed wood. The decayed wood portions 3 are removed by any suitable methods, preferably by portable power driven tools, leaving a cavity 4 in which the walls are designated by the numeral 5. To the walls 5, which are preferably cut smooth, a torch producing an exceedingly high temperature, say from 3000 to 5800 degrees F., is applied for a sufficient period, which may be from a fraction of a second to twenty minutes, depending upon the character of the wood, the object being to quickly carbonize a layer 6 ol the wall 5 without injuring the tree, and at the same time destroy any fungus growth and bacteria that may have infiltrated into the wood adjacent to the wall 5, and also to burn out the narrow fingers of decayed wood or fungus infected wood sometimes running through the sound wood, thereby eliminating the necessity of cutting out large portions of sound wood and thus preventing impairing the strength of the structure of the trunk or limb. The layer of carbon 6 is approximately to l@ of an inch in thickness.

A suitable disinfecting liquid. of high penetrating properties, such as creosote preparations or derivatives, is now applied with a brush or spray gun to the carbon layer 6. Carbon, as well known, has excellent properties of absorption of gas and liquids, and therefore, the carbon layer 6 will serve to absorb and hold the disinfecting solution which may to some extent penetrate the lwood adj acent the carbon layer 6, and is indicated by the shaded portions and the numeral le. The next step is to apply to the carbon layer 6, which may be dry or still slightly moist, a coat of water proofing such as an asphaltum paint or varnish, forming a coating 7. The purpose of the coating 7 is to seal up any minute cracks which may be present in the layer of carbon 6, and also to confine the disinfectant 14 absorbed bythe carbon layer and wood adjacent thereto and prevent condensation of water on the layer of carbon 6 and.

in general to thoroughly and permanently water proof the walls of the cavity. The carbon layer 6 acts as an excellent bond far superior to the untreated wood of the tree for the coating which will not peel or crack.

The cavity 4 is now filled lwith a suitable plastic self-hardening elastic composition, the object being to exclude water and assist in the making of a hermetic seal around the edges ofthe mouth of the cavity. l have found suitable for this purpose a composition made of asphaltum, preferably gilsonite, ten parts; and diatomaceous earth seven parts; to which is added from 21/2 to l5 percent of lime sludge derived from the purification of sugar juices in beet sugar factories. The diatomaceous earth gives lightness and in sulating value to the composition and prevents softening or flowing of asphaltum under the suns heat, and the lime sludge toughens the asphaltum and gives it greater resiliency. The asphaltum is heated to about 600 degrees F. maximum, and the diatomaceous earth and lime sludge, which must be dry, are gradually added and mixed in, the composition being kept hot while being mixed. When thoroughly mixed, it is allowed to cool to a workable temperature and consistency which permits molding, but willnot flow or j sag when putin place in the cavity. The composition is heated to a-plasticA condition and then vapplied tothe cavity to lill the same, or a plastic composition may be molded'to lit the cavity andthe outer surface adjacent thereto is softened by a flame and pressed into place, just flush with the edge and sealing the same. The plastic composition 8 in the cavity 2 may not completely ll the same but leave an -outer shallowrecess 9 on the outer face 8 of the plastic composition 8 and wire mesh screen l0, preferably of about l2 to 16 mesh, may be placed thereon on which a plastic composition l1 similar to composition 9 but richer in asphaltum, is applied; the outer face of which is substantially flush with the wood edges of the cavity, taking care not to cover the cambiumlayer l2 of the tree, in orderto hermetically seal the cavity. The wire screen l0 forms a flexible foundation for the outer composition 1l.

In this mannerthe decayed or damaged portions of the tree are removed, and the cavity or cut is sterilized, disinfected, and provided with a flexible water proof coating, and the'cavity is hermetically sealed but leaving the cambium layer l2 adjacent to the' bark free to grow over the mouth of the cavity as shown in Fig. 6. If desired a layer of colored hydraulic cement or the'like may be appliedl on the surfacey of the layer l1 and manipulated to simulate the bark in shape and color.

The step of carbonizing a cut portionof the wood of the tree may also be applied where branches are cut oii", as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. The cut portion of the branch is carbonized, as indicated in Fig. 8, care being taken to leave a small margin of wood (over which the cambium will quickly heal) adjacent to the bark,uncarbonized, so as lnot to injure the cambium layer l2, and thaty the latter may not be overheated and destroyed. The carbonized portion, after being treated with a disinfectant as described above, is now painted over with a water proofing coating similar to the' varnish 7 in the cavity.

'The cut treated in, this manner will, permit the cambium layer to grow usuallyfrom the two sides, gradually closing together over the wound, andlinthe course of time, unless the cut is toolarge, completely covering the same. Y. It will be understood that other improved methods in common practice, such as bolting, may be used inthe cavity to reinforce the tree where the cavity is'so large that reinforcing isdesirable to strengthen the trunk or branch or the tree in thel region of'excavation. As stated before, the `plastic composition 97may be omitted.. It is not necessary to luse a wire mesh for sealing the cavity, but the composit'm may be brought out flush with the woode ge.`

While l usually prefer to emplo the step ofjcarbonizing the wood 'as descri ed, good results arealso obtained when the carboniza- Wtion is omitted and the cavity is filled with my improved asphaltic composition,care being taken to hermetically seal the cavity.

.of the fact that its application involves little additional labor and expense.

. Various 'changes in the steps of the method may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed.

I claim:

l. A method of tree surgery comprising cutting away the decayed or damaged portion of the wood of a tree to form a cavity, applying a flame having a temperature of 3000 to 5800 degrees F; to the walls of the cavity to sterilize the same and carbonize the outer layer thereof, and applying a water proof coating to the carbonized layer.

tid

2. A method ot tree surgery comprising cutting away the decayed or damaged portion el the wood of a tree to form a cavity having smooth walls, applying intense heat to the walls ci the cavity to sterilize the same and carhonize the outer layer thereof, applying a disintecting iiuid to the carhonized layer, applying a water proof coating to the oarhonized layer, filling the cavity with an elastic water prooiE plastic composition, applying a wire screen over the exposed iace ot the plastic composition, and applying a second water prooi elastic plastic composition on the screen substantially tlnsh with the contour ot the tree.

method of tree surgery comprising cutting away the decayed or damaged portion ol' the wood oil` a tree to i'orm a cavity having smooth walls, applying intense heat to the 'walls oit the cavity to sterilize the same and carhonive the outer layer thereof, applying a dis-infecting iluid to the carbonized layer, tilling the cavity with an elastic water prooi plastic composition, applying a wire screen over the exposed Alace et the plastic composition, and alpplying a second water prooi elastic plastic composition on 'the screen suhstai'ltially flush with the contour of the tree but leaving the cainhium layer adjacent te the wood uncovered by the plastic composition.

Ll. i method ol tree surgery comprising cutting away the decayed or damaged portion ot the wood ct a tree to form a cavity having smooth walls, applying intense heat to the walls of the cavity to sterilize the same and carhoniae the outer layer thereof, applying a creosote filerivative 'fluid to the carbon ized layer, applying an asphaltum varnish to the carhonized layer, and filling the mouth o; the cavity with a water prooiI elastic plascomposition forming a. hermetic seal along the edges thereof.

Bi method et tree surgery comprising cutting the diseased or damaged portion of a tree to form a cavity having smooth walls, apjllying intense heat to the Walls of the cavity to sterilize the same and carhonize the outer layer thereof, applying a creosote derivative iliuid to the carbonized layer, applying an asphaltum varnish on the carbonized layer, filling the cavity with a plastic composition made of asphaltum, diatomaceous earth, and lime sludge, applying a wire screen to th exposed tace ot said plastic composition, and applying a second composition relatively richer in asphaltum than said iirst composition on said wire screen to form a hermetic seal with the mouth of the cavity hat leaving the camhium layer uninjured and 'tree to grow inwardly over the edges of the mouth ci the cavity.

0. A method of tree surgery comprising applying a disinfecting tluid to the walls of a cavity ci the tree, filling the cavity with an elastic Waterproof plastic composition, applying a wire screen over the exposed face of the plastic composition, and applying a second waterproof elastic plastic composition on the screen substantially flush with the con tour of the tree but leaving the cambium layerI adjacent to the wood uncovered by the plastic composition.

7. A method of tree surgery comprising iilling a cavity ot' a tree with a plastic composition made of asphaltum, diatomaceous earth and lime sludge, and forming a hermetic seal with the mouth of the cavity but leaving the cambium layer uninj ured and free to grow inwardly over the edges of the mouth ot the cavity.

8. A method of tree surgery comprising filling a cavity of a tree with a plastic composition made of asphaltum, a diatomaceous earth and lime sludge, applying a wire screen to the exposed face of said plastic composition, and applying a second composition relatively richer in asphaltum than said irst composition on said wire screen to form a hermetic seal with the mouth of the cavity hut leaving the cambium layer uninjured and free to grow inwardly over the edges of the mouth ot the cavity.

9. A method of tree surgery comprisin applying a lflame of 3000 to 5800 degrees l. to a decayed or damaged portion of the wood of a tree to sterilize the same and carbonize the layer ol' the exposed wood ot the tree, and applying a waterproof coating thereto.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FREDERICK SALATI-IE, JR. 

